Kidney Infection Symptoms and Treatment
Kidney infections are relatively common, but they can become very serious if they are not treated quickly and properly. In order to get treatment as soon as possible, it is helpful to know the symptoms of kidney infections and the signs of kidney infection so that you are able to recognize a kidney infection right away. Learn about kidney infection symptoms and treatment in this article.
Symptoms of Kidney Infections
It’s important to understand that there is a difference between symptoms of kidney infections and signs of kidney infection. Symptoms are something that you experience and report to the doctor. Signs are something that the doctor sees that point to the possibility that you have a kidney infection. It’s important to report all of your symptoms to your doctor so that a proper diagnosis can be made. The symptoms of kidney infections include flank pain, pain in the sides, low back pain, vomiting, and pain or burning during urination.
Signs of Kidney Infection
Again, the signs of kidney infection differ from the symptoms of a kidney infection because they are things that the doctor can make note of in order to diagnose your condition. Signs of kidney infection can include microscopic amounts of blood in the urine, a high white blood cell count, and high levels of bacteria in the urine. In order to determine these levels, your doctor may perform tests on samples of your blood and urine.
Kidney Infection Symptoms and Treatment
When treating a kidney infection, doctors need to treat the underlying infection as well as the kidney infection symptoms. In order to treat the infection, you may be given oral or intravenous antibiotics. More serious infections may require hospitalization so that you can be treated and monitored by medical professionals. In treating individual symptoms, doctors may prescribe medications or other treatments. Kidney infection pain can be treated with over the counter or prescription pain medications.
Finding Kidney Infection Symptoms and Treatment
It is important that you seek help if you have the symptoms of a kidney infection. These infections can rapidly become very serious and require emergency medical treatment. You can call your primary care physician if you notice any kidney infection symptoms, and someone from the practice will instruct you in what to do. You may be asked to come in for an office visit, or you might be sent to an urgent care clinic or emergency room. Follow your doctor’s instructions in order to get the best possible outcome.
Kidney Infection Symptoms and Treatment References
Discovery Health. Back Pain and Kidney Infection. Retrieved March 31, 2009.
Medline Plus. National Library of Medicine. Kidney Infection. Retrieved March 31, 2009.
